Authorities are currently questioning officials of a Tamil Nadu college after three women medical students allegedly committed suicide by jumping in a well on Saturday evening. The bodies of the three women were found in a well near the SVS Yoga Medical College, at Kallaikurichi in Villupuram district on Sunday morning.

The local police have registered a case of extortion, cheating and abetting suicide, based on a suicide note they claim to have recovered. The purported note, written in Tamil, was signed by all three students – E Saranya, V Priyanka and T Monisha – and blames the college's administration for charging exorbitant fees despite barely teaching them and also claims that the college chairman would verbally abuse them. The note also asks for action to be taken against the college administration.

The full text of this purported suicide note, roughly translated into English, is below:

Saranya, Monisha, Priyanka – we study at SVS Naturopathy Medical College. This college is collecting large amount as fees without issuing any receipt for it. The fees charged is not commensurate with the education provided. There are no teachers. We complained about this repeatedly but no action was taken. Our families are under stress as we are made to do menial jobs more than studies. The college Chairman Vasuki calls us ‘criminals’. We have suffered by coming here to study.

We are committing suicide so that this move will at least now lead to action against this college. Our action might result in our being termed as characterless girls by Chairman Vasuki. Please do not believe what is said about us. We have not even passed our 2nd year but have had to pay Rs six lakhs as fees.

V Priyanka
E Saranya
T Monisha